The polyethylene piping industry continues to increase the size of pipe diameters and pipe wall thicknesses used in the transportation of gas, water, and oil. The original reverse bend test in F2620 is of limited capability when testing heat fusion joints in wall pipe systems that are heavier with larger diameters. A new standard (soon to be published as F3183, Practice for Guided Side Bend Testing of Polyethylene Pipe Butt Fusion Joints) will help to ensure the safe and reliable testing of heat fusion joints by offering a new test procedure to assess the quality of the butt fusion joint and the machine operator.

According to ASTM member Steve Sandstrum, director of Technical Services at ISCO Industries, “ASTM F3183 gives our industry another tool to help ensure the reliable long-term performance of polyethylene piping systems by assessing the quality of the thermal butt fusion procedures used to join these systems at the time of construction.”

The new standard, developed by ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems, will be used by fusion machine operators, utility owners, laboratory technicians, and third-party agencies to assess the ductility of a polyethylene butt heat fusion joint in the field or in the laboratory.

To purchase standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (tel +1.877.909.ASTM; sales@astm.org). ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Become a member at www.astm.org/JOIN.

For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-construction.

ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems Next Meeting: Nov. 14-17, 2016, November Committee Week, Orlando, Fla.
Media Inquiries: Dan Bergels, tel +1.610.832.9602; dbergels@astm.org
Technical Contact: Steve Sandstrum, tel +1.502.318.6754; steve.sandstrum@isco-pipes.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Robert Morgan, tel +1.610.832.9732; rmorgan@astm.org
   
Release #10091